Bungy Jumping / Swing

Canyoning

Canyoning is a mix of land and water travel, descending picturesque canyons on foot (or rear end), ropes and swimming. Born by adrenalin-seekers, the growth in popularity of Canyoning in New Zealand means gentler trips are increasingly available.

Horse Trekking

Galloping down an isolated beach on a trusty steed, sand flying, the salt air whipping in your hair... (admit it, that's how you picture yourself on a horse)
Horse trekking is offered all over New Zealand, guided trips catering to both experienced riders and those with less time in the saddle.

Snow and Ice

Walking and Trekking

Walking and trekking the tracks throughout New Zealand is top of the to-do list for many travellers to New Zealand. From gentle, scenic short walks to multi-day adventures, experience Aotearoa on foot and immerse yourself in the bush, beach and wilderness you came to see.

Water Activities

Boat Cruises

With over 15,000km of coastline to enjoy, New Zealand is naturally quite fond of boats… Boat cruises are a great way to explore NZ's rivers, lakes, beaches and fjords, offering a different perspective on both our landscape and wildlife.

Diving

Get deep - explore life beneath the surface with diving, scuba or snorkelling. From the sub-tropical waters of the North Island to the clear, cool waters of the deep South, divers of all abilities can get up close and personal with New Zealand's wrecks, colourful seascape and fish.

Fresh Water Canoeing / Kayaking

Jet Boating

The need for speed is alive and well! Get up close and personal - at pace - with New Zealand rivers and lakes from the confines of a speedy little boat. Thrills, spins and scenery, jet boating is an adrenaline rush appropriate for young, old and everyone in between.

Air Activities

Attractions

Visitor Centres

i-SITE Visitor Information Centres

i-SITE is New Zealand’s official visitor information network with over 80 i-SITEs nationwide

Every person who works at an i-SITE is a local travel expert for their home town. They will help you to find quality activities, attractions, accommodation, transport and more. This ensures you will experience the latest and greatest the town has to offer whatever you are after!

Freedom Camping

Transport

Land Transport

Motorhomes / Campervans / RV

Travelling New Zealand by rental Campervan and Motorhome gives you freedom. Stay by nature, by the beach or use the full facilities provided by hundreds of Holiday Parks and campgrounds. This ranking table doesn't show all campervan companies in NZ, but does show around 80% of them.

Coastal Otago

Fiordland

Meditative Milford - Get yourself in a zen state as this place is intense. Once the tour buses depart by 4pm, the locals are in their element (including sandflies). Find yourself in a quiet space and do what you need to do to take it all in.

An email address provides authenticity for your account and allows Rankers to contact you. You'll need a valid email address in order to write reviews. You can unsubscribe from any emails in your account settings.

Your email address will not be shared with any third-parties.

Your Nickname*

Will be publicly displayed.

Enter your nickname that can be used publicly to represent you and also when we address you (rather than your first name and surname).

User Membership Terms

This agreement applies to all website users using a Rankers membership account. Basically it provides information about the terms which apply to your use of the Rankers website, including your membership account. There is a bunch of other standard legal stuff too.

Photos

Information

The eerie scenes in The Return of the King as Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli ride along the Dimholt Road to meet the Army of the Dead were filmed against the surreal backdrop of the Pinnacles.

The Putangirua Pinnacles are hoodoos. It’s like stepping into another world once immersed in the fluted columns. The mighty columns thrust skyward and seem ready to topple at the slightest breath. The walls of the valley are weathered to curtain-like forms, the many small pinnacles resembling a fairytale castle. Mini canyons segregate pinnacle ridges, although you should be wary of exploring these as rockfalls are frequent, especially in high winds or during rain

Access

3.6 km after Pirinoa, turn left into Whangaimoana Road (signposted Ngawi and Cape Palliser). Putangirua Pinnacles are signposted on the left after 13 km.

There’s a DoC camping area with toilets and picnic benches. The track starts from the far end of the campground.

Track

The track effectively follows the streambed, with the variety of loose rock sizes sometimes making it tough going. Feet sink into the loose gravel and the larger pebbles make the footing uneven. Try and pick a route along the dried streambeds, where a deposit of mud and sand makes a more even surface.

After 10 minutes, a well-concealed signpost on the left marks the exit of the bushwalk. After a further 15 minutes another signpost marks the start of the track to the lookout. Shortly after, bear left to the side arm of the valley, where the main area of pinnacles begins to tower above. You will already begin to note the fluted erosion patterns on the valley walls. It will take around 40 minutes for a thorough exploration of this other-worldly landscape.

Return via the same track or follow the Bush Walk Loop via the lookout.

The track climbs steadily through the forest, occasionally aided with steps. After 20 minutes the lookout is signposted on the right. The elevated platform takes in the entire valley wall, with the rippled curtains of pinnacles sculpted into the gravels. This is a wondrous sight, ample reward for the effort of the climb. You gain a good perspective of the pinnacles’ form from here and how they link into the landscape.

Gorse bushes get friendly on the initial parts of the descent. Benches furnish the trackside, some placed in to take in views of the Rimutaka Range, Palliser Bay and Turakirae Head. The steady descent arrives on the streambed, 10 minutes above the carpark.

Geology

7-8 million years ago, the Aorangi Range was the only part of the region above sea level. Large alluvial gravel fans, similar to today’s Ngapotiki Fan formed on the southern margin, later to be submerged by rising sea levels. Tectonic upheavals have since re-exposed the consolidated gravel beds to form the ‘badlands erosion’ on show today.

The earth pillars, or ‘hoodoos’, form by rain washing off the soil surface, exposing a resistant layer of rock or large boulder, which forms a cap, protecting the rock beneath. When this cap is punctured the surrounding material is washed away until another resistant layer is encountered. This gives rise to pillars of differing heights. Where a cap still exists a fluted pinnacle forms. Heavy rain removes the softer silty matrix binding the conglomerate of gravels to expose the individual rocks.

The most severe erosion has taken place over the last 7,000 years. With forest clearance over the last 1,000 years the rates of erosion have been accelerated. Current rates are estimated at 1 cm per year, with some individual pillars being 1000 years old.

Track Difficulty

DOC Track Category

What type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)?

Walking track

Easy to moderate walking from a few minutes to a day. Track is mostly well formed, some sections may be steep, rough or muddy. Suitable for people with low to moderate fitness and abilities. Clearly signposted. Stream and river crossings are bridged. Walking shoes or light tramping/hiking boots required.

DOC Track Category

What type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)?

Walking track

Easy to moderate walking from a few minutes to a day. Track is mostly well formed, some sections may be steep, rough or muddy. Suitable for people with low to moderate fitness and abilities. Clearly signposted. Stream and river crossings are bridged. Walking shoes or light tramping/hiking boots required.

01Oct18. We went up to the lookout first then down to the base of the pinnacles. The first part and the return is along the stream bed. A bit heavy going in places. The base of the pinnacles is the same and steep with it so hard work.
As for the pinnacles, it was a bit murky when we were there so not seen in their best light. Perhaps a sunny day would make it a better spectacle. Although a somewhat different place, and continent, check out Brice Canyon, Utah!
In spite of that, you have to go there at least once. Glad we did.

Reviewed over 1 year ago

Mike Fricker

United Kingdom

Ranking: 9/10

01Oct18. Damp start to the day but not cold. Walked to the lookout then down to the pinnacles base. Good stuff. Hard work walking on gravel but worth it. Don’t think we will go again tho. A bit out of the way. Glad we did it tho.

Reviewed over 1 year ago

Conservation Campsite Pass

Save up to 70% on campsite fees! Support conservation and experience the natural beauty of NZ. 78 Department of Conservation campsites, one convenient pass.

Very impressive and more so the further you go up the streamside path. Beware this path though, for it’s really not a path but a scramble up the streambed. As noted you will be crossing back and forth across it several times and you really do make your own way. Good shoes are a must! It’s posted as 1.5 hours round trip but that’s only if you hustle and it is a challenging scramble both ways. Probably best to plan two hours at least.

Well worth the effort though and push all the way up, the view back down is amazing!

Reviewed almost 2 years ago

Mark Davies

United Kingdom

Ranking: 8/10

This was a really interesting walk amongst almost spooky pinnacles. Easy to see why it was chosen for a lord of the rings scene! We would recommend going up via the lookout first and then returning along the stream bed. 3 reasons for this: it's easy to miss the path up to the lookout from the stream bed, walking among the pinnacles is more impressive than the lookout so best to do second and finally it's just harder work walking up a stream bed! Wear good (preferably waterproof) shoes due to having to cross the river several times. Enjoy!

Reviewed over 2 years ago

Top Ranked NZ Deals Pass

Access savings worth hundreds of $$ on Top Ranked NZ Accommodation and Activities for just $1 per day.

We were positively surprised about the rock formations! They looked cool even in the poor and rainy weather we had! Took us about 2h to walk the stream bed up to the pinnacles and return via the lookout path. On the way we needed to carefully cross water streams several times. Good footgear is recommended. Beware of the falling rocks! Many of them fell near us because of the rain.

Reviewed about 3 years ago

Camping NZ App

Every camping site on your iPhone™, iPad™ or Android™ phone or tablet. Avoid camping penalties using this council approved app. Featuring offline maps.

Ben

Germany

Ranking: 8/10

Not well signed, otherwise, great views, especially of the Lord of the Rings filming site.

Reviewed about 3 years ago and experienced in October 2016

Jade Williams

New Zealand

Ranking: 10/10

A good family track to look down on the Pinnacles and there is a free campground at the bottom.

Reviewed about 3 years ago and experienced in November 2016

Lucie Revay

Ranking: 9/10

The walk takes you 1.5 hours return, more if you stop often to take pictures (and you will). The scenery is absolutely stunning. The path isn't very comfortable, I recommend steady shoes. Also the walk is very poorly signposted.

Reviewed over 3 years ago

DOC Managed

Thanks to all the good people working for the NZ Department of Conservation - for all your hard work - making NZ more beautiful, accessable and healthy! Cheers 😍